S4S gets support from student organizations and celebrities
S4S gets support from student organizations and celebrities (by: She Capili)
Prior to the launching of the S4S Campaign, the E-Media Program of ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc. has enlisted the support of student organizations and celebrities. They appeared in the audio-visual materials that were produced with the aim of creating awareness among the youth.
During the campaign’s launch, a symbolic turnover ceremony was held among the S4S supporters who have also helped in creating awareness about S4S. All of them are donating S4S Package to their chosen school beneficiaries.
Tado…after Art Jam
Former Art Jam host and radio program host Arvin Jimenez is best known as "Tado" in show business and among the youth advocates. He is one of the most favorite talents that the ABS-CBN Foundation used to ask for projects that require a host or an actor to carry out certain causes. He does not demand for any talent fees at all and he is always willing to support AFI’s projects no matter how busy he is. For the S4S Campaign, he co-hosts with Bianca Gonzales in an audio-visual presentation that presents what S4S is all about. He is also donating ETV materials to Baybay North Central School in Leyte where he attended two school years.
PBB’s Bianca is one Big Ate
Despite her numerous commitments to various entities, product endorser, host, and youth advocate Bianca Gonzales was able to share a portion of her time to shoot the S4S audio-visual presentation with Tado. Described as one of the most articulate hosts in the entertainment industry, the production staff of AFI was impressed by her almost take one shots which helped the team to accomplish everything within a tight schedule. Bianca is also donating an ETV package to Cervantes Central Elementary School in Catarman, Northern Samar.
PLM’s theater org performs to help
The Magwayen Creative Scholars’ Guild (or simply ‘Magwayen’) is the premier theater organization of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM). This award-winning group appeared in an infomercial that was produced to encourage other school organizations to support S4S. The group is donating an ETV package to Batbat Elementary School in Albay.
PWU Female sings for S4S
The PWU Female Ensemble is a swing choir, specializing in singing and dancing to modern and upbeat music and to folk and classic songs. The group has won several awards and performed in various events here and abroad. The girls extended their support to S4S by also appearing in a television plug where they are encouraging other choirs to perform for the cause of public schools. They chose the Mariawa Elementary School in Legaspi City as the beneficiary of the ETV materials.
6Cyclemind spreads S4S through a song One of the busiest local bands of today is 6Cyclemind. Band members Ney Dimaculangan (vocals), Rye Sarmiento (rhythm guitar and backup vocals), Chuck Isidro (lead guitar), Bob Cañamo (bass guitar), Tutti Caringal (drums), and manager Darwin Hernandez extended their support to S4S as they worked on the arrangement and interpretation of the campaign’s theme song "Sagot Kita." Composers Noime Cruz and Popoy Ferrer were happy and proud to hear the actual fruits of their labor. "Sobrang na-pressure kami sa pagsulat at paglapat ng music kasi the next day na kailangan yung kanta pero sobrang saya namin na naiiyak kami sa tuwa dahil ang ganda ng ginawa nila [6Cyclemind]," Noime said. 
6Cyclemind performed "Sagot Kita" in Umagang Kay Ganda (UKG)
A music video of "Sagot Kita" with 6Cyclemind was also produced and it is airing over the music channel, MYX. It can also be viewed at the S4S web site (www.s4scampaign.org) and other popular video sites such as the YouTube. Educational Television (ETV) shows’ director Caloy Santos, Jr. also handled the production of the music video.
Darwin said that joining the S4S project serves as their thanksgiving for the unexpected blessings that the band has received for 2007. Drummer Tutti Caringal said, "we are just trying to help para mapalawak yung awareness sa mga tao on what S4S is all about." He referred to a common saying ‘use your popularity for a good cause.’ As he put it, "nandito kami sa industriyang ‘to, tinitingnan kami ng tao, napapanood kami ng tao, in a way may responsibilidad kami lalo na sa mga bata."
Aside from arranging the campaign’s theme song and appearing in its music video, 6Cyclemind is also donating educational television (ETV) materials to five public elementary schools in Daraga, Albay. These schools are Lacag Elementary School, Gapo Elementary School, Dela Paz Elementary School, Dinoronan Elementary School, and Binitayan Elementary School.
E-Media Program enjoins the youth through S4S
October 16, 2007 – The E-Media Program of ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc. (AFI) launched its new project called S4S Campaign at the Studio One of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation. S4S or Schools for Schools is a campaign that gives opportunities to school-based organizations to help public elementary schools in the calamity-stricken regions of Bicol, Samar. Leyte, and Biliran by providing them with educational television (ETV) materials. In her message, AFI managing director Gina Lopez encouraged the student leaders to make S4S the beneficiary of their fundraising and outreach activities.
Student-supporters also took part in the program. The Philippine Women’s University Female Ensemble opened the program with an inspirational song followed by the singing of the national anthem. Moreover, the Magwayen Creative Scholars’ Guild of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila entertained the guests and participants with a skit mimicking the game show Kapamilya Deal or No Deal.
Celebrities Bianca Gonzales and Arvin "Tado" Jimenez extended their support to S4S by hosting the audio-visual presentation of the campaign. The band 6Cyclemind performed the S4S Campaign theme song entitled "Sagot Kita" for the first time. These supporters also donated their gifts of ETV materials to their chosen public schools in the above-mentioned areas.
Present also during the launch were DepEd Information Officer Dr. Rebecca Ragrag, DepEd Chief of Staff Romeo Glen Sumido, DepEd Usec. Antonio Inocentes, and DepEd Regional Director for Region 8 Dr. Sol Matugas.
Around 200 student organization leaders from the following colleges and universities attended the event: Adamson University, Air Link International Aviation School, Asian College of Science and Technology, Assumption College, Ateneo de Manila University, Chiang Kai Shek College, Concordia College, De La Salle University-Manila, Far Eastern University, Manila Central University, Miriam College Foundation, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Saint Jude College, San Beda College, San Sebastian College Recoletos, Saint Mary’s College, Saint Paul University – Manila, Philippine Women’s University-Manila, Philippine Women’s University-Q.C., Trinity College – Q.C., University of Makati, University of the East – Caloocan, UP-Diliman, and Philippine Normal University.
Highlights of the launch include a talk on the positive effects of educational television on school children by University of the Philippines Professor Emeritus and AFI consultant Dr. Milagros Ibe, and a symbolic turnover of educational television materials with the supporters of S4S and their school beneficiaries.
Aside from this, a series of presentations of audio-visual materials produced to create awareness on the campaign were also shown to the audience. These materials were included in a CD that was given to each participating school. The CD contains an audio-visual presentation that introduces and explains what S4S is all about, a series of plugs, and a music video of the campaign’s theme song. These video materials can also be viewed at the official web site of S4S – www.s4scampaign.org (She Capili)
S4S GOES TO BICOL by: she capili
S4S goes to Bicol (by: she capili)
When I was assigned to implement the S4S Campaign, I felt blessed. The idea of communicating and working with student organizations from various colleges and universities thrilled me. I remember my college days when staging fundraising events meant not just simply an extra-curricular activity that we had to do in order to meet the requirements of our Student Affairs Office but as a sincere action to contribute to that dream of attaining social transformation.
For the past months of receiving inquiries from a lot of organizations and individuals here and even abroad, I felt more motivated and inspired to know that there are a lot of people who share with us the same goal of having a brighter future for our schoolchildren. This generation of the youth is indeed very passionate and optimistic that we can improve the quality of education in our country.
My attachment to S4S was even more intensified during my visit in Bicol where I represented the S4S supporters for a series of turnover ceremonies with our first batch of school beneficiaries that were affected by typhoons Reming and Milenyo. Through the kind assistance of Sagip Kapamilya, we were able to bring the gifts of educational television to nine (9) public elementary schools. On the other hand, Sagip Kapamilya launched its Sagip Karunungan project where they distributed school supplies and healthcare products to some other schools including one of S4S’ school beneficiary, Binitayan Elementary School in Daraga, Albay where we held the turnover event. This school also served as an evacuation center during typhoons most especially for those who live near the rivers.
Among this batch’s list of school beneficiaries and their donors includes the following:
| School Beneficiary | S4S Supporter |
| Batbat ES, Guinobatan, Albay | PLM Magwayen Creative Scholars’ Guild |
| Mariawa ES, Legazpi City, Albay | PWU Female Ensemble |
| Lacag ES, Daraga, Albay | Rye Sarmiento of 6Cyclemind |
| Gapo ES, Daraga, Albay | Tutti Caringal of 6Cyclemind |
| Dela Paz ES, Daraga, Albay | Chuck Isidro of 6Cyclemind |
| Carolina ES, Daraga, Albay | Ney Dimaculangan of 6Cyclemind |
| Binitayan ES, Daraga, Albay | Bob Cañamo of 6Cyclemind |
| Buyo ES, Manito, Albay | The Makati Collegian (University of Makati) |
| Guillermo Azañes ES, Camarines Sur | DLSU-IMES (DLSU-Manila) |
As AFI's E-Media events and communications officer, I (middle) represented the S4S supporters and handed over the ETV package to the school beneficiaries in Albay. (L-R) Elver Paguio, principal, Batbat ES, Guinobatan; Aileen Madelar, teacher, Mariawa ES, Legaspi City; Noel Lucitanio, principal, Lacag ES, Daraga; Felma Bonito, principal, Gapo ES, Daraga; Herminia Sandia, teacher-in-charge, Dela Paz ES, Daraga; Ma. Cheripa Llanera, teacher-in-charge, Carolina ES, Daraga; Andrea Mapa, prinicipal, Binitayan ES, Daraga; and Fely Jacob, education supervisor, Buyo ES, Manito. Visiting Gapo, Dela Paz, and Carolina ES
The rest of the afternoon during that same day of the turnover ceremony in Albay was spent to paying a short visit to three schools in Daraga. As always, RNG-Legazpi was very helpful in lending our team with a cameraman, Kuya Edgar while Karen Bilaos from the Rotaract Club of Legazpi volunteered to be our interpreter and photographer as I needed to interview some teachers and students.
Our first stop was at Carolina ES. We had quite a hard time looking for it as it is located in the middle of a farm that is some meters way from the main road. It only has three classrooms that are being shared by two grade levels per room. At first, I was speechless after hearing about this what they referred to as the combination scheme. Grades I and II, III and IV, V and VI. How does it work?
Carolina ES, Daraga, Albay
The students are divided according to grade level. One side of the room is occupied by one grade level and the other side by another one. Each classroom has only one teacher. The teacher attends to each grade level alternately. For example, a lecture will be given to Grade I pupils while the Grade II kids will be given a seatwork to work on, and vice versa. Teacher-in-charge (TIC) Cherieta Llanera also shared with us that the ratio of book to students is 4:1 and she considered the educational television tapes that they received as a big help to fulfill the lack of reading materials. After typhoon Reming’s unforgettable effects to Carolina ES, the school still hopes to receive more learning materials for its students.
Dela Paz ES, Daraga, Albay
Taking the same chain, we found Dela Paz Elementary School on top of a hill and Gapo Elementary School a few meters after. Like most of the schools in Albay, they also lost classrooms, desks, and school materials. School head of Gapo ES Felma Bonito recalled, "nabasa yung mga charts at libro at pinasok ng tubig baha ang mga classrooms namin." TIC for Dela Paz ES Herminia Sandia shared, "natuklap ang mga bubong at bumigay ang mga bintana ng mga silid."
Gapo ES, Daraga, Albay
When it was time to say our temporary goodbye to these schools, every school beneficiary through their principals asked our team to extend their sincerest thanks to their donors. "Maraming salamat po sa inyo dahil malaking tulong po ang maibibigay ng mga tapes na ipinagkaloob ninyo sa aming paaralan," said Julie Fernandez who is a Grade 6 student from Gapo ES. "Sigurado po ako na mas magiging interested kaming mga mag-aaral na pumasok at mag-aral dahil mayroon na po kaming mapapanood ngayon," said Irene Nuez, also a Grade 6 student from Dela Paz ES.
Armi Imperial (middle) received the ETV package donated by the DLSU-IMES. RNG-Naga news anchor Gerard Lorbes (left) joined the turnover ceremony held last June 19.
The schools are slowly recovering from the effects of the typhoons. They are still in need of books and financial support to rehabilitate their classrooms. But these do not stop the teachers from continuing their noble role and these do not discourage the younger Bicolanos from learning and dreaming that soon everything will go back to its proper condition.
On that note…
If there’s another creature on Earth whom I admire most next to my mother, it would be this living thing called – teacher. When we were in kindergarten, I remember the first day was spent for orientation. There we were asked what we wanted to be when we grow up and almost everyone would say, "I want to be a teacher." One year after I graduated from college, I found myself in front of Mass Comm students talking about the history of print journalism in the Philippines and I would hop to another class explaining the principles of advertising, and to another class doing basic workshops for scriptwriting. Although I am also a teacher, I exclude myself for now to this group of living things I admire. I refer to the teachers in the public elementary schools who cross rivers and mountains (both literally and figuratively) just to reach their assigned areas. I refer to the teachers who stay in our country despite the issues on salary and benefits. I refer to the teachers who serve as second mothers to our siblings, to your sons and daughters. I refer to the teachers who try their best to discipline around 40 to 60 children in a classroom. I refer to the teachers who almost break their vocal cords for their whole day of explaining the life of Jose Rizal, the process of photosynthesis, the past tense and present participle of the word ‘keep,’ and most especially - good manners and right conduct. I refer to the teachers who do all these and even go beyond their job description in order to guide this younger generation who will soon be the next president of this country, the next doctors to help the less fortunate, the next socially responsible broadcast journalist, and yes, the next teacher who will be admired, too.
For more details on the S4S Campaign, please visit www.s4scampaign.org or
call (02) 415-6296.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
